Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS Game 3: Start Time, TV Channel, Live Stream and More
By Brad Rowland
Oct 4, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Jason Heyward (22) celebrates with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. The Braves won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Date: October 6, 2013
First Pitch Time: 8:07 PM ET
Pitching Probables: Julio Teheran (Atlanta) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (Los Angeles)
TV Channel: TBS
Radio: 93.7 FM/680 AM (Atlanta Flagship), Atlanta Braves Radio Network (Local Affiliates)
Live Stream: MLB.TV and MLB At-Bat 2013
Before we get started on Game 3 in Los Angeles, be sure to check out our recap of Atlanta’s 4-3 victory in Game 2.
Tonight, the series shifts to the West Coast, which is certainly a negative for the Braves. However, this is the first time (and potentially only time) in the series in which the pitching match-up might be a bit favorable for Atlanta.
Julio Teheran gets the ball for the Braves in Game 3, and he’s been lights-out during his rookie campaign. For the season, the 22-year-old right-hander has a 3.20 ERA with sterling peripherals that include a strikeout rate of 8.24 K/9 and a walk rate of 2.18 BB/9 for the year. In the 2nd half of the year (post All-Star break), Julio’s numbers are even more outstanding, as his ERA lowered to 2.97 in the final 72.2 innings of the regular season.
Opposing him, the Dodgers have no slouch in Ryu. There was some minor concern that the 26-year-old lefty wouldn’t be able to make this start after he pitched a mysterious bullpen session earlier in the week (he normally doesn’t throw bullpens), but all indications are that he’ll be on the mound for the first pitch. On the year, Ryu has a 3.00 ERA and, like Teheran, that number fell in the 2nd half of the year.
Even if we call the pitching match-up a “toss up” (which is probably is), that is a significant uptick from the first 2 games of the series (on paper) for Atlanta. Neither player has made a postseason start in the Major Leagues, so the almighty “experience” may come in to play, but I’d expect both pitchers to be pretty effective in this spot.
As I pen this, the lineups for the night are unknown, but I’d expect much of the same from the first two games, where both managers used identical lineups. I can’t see Fredi Gonzalez tinkering with the lineup at all in Game 3, especially when Evan Gattis continues to hit well, and for the Dodgers, they don’t have a ton of room to tinker with their injury-plagued bats.
It will be crucial for the Braves to get off to a fast start and, hopefully, move through Ryu in route to the pre-Jansen bullpen. That is certainly the weak spot on the LA pitching staff, and the earlier that the Braves can get into the bullpen, the better their chances will be.
Stay with us throughout the night, and tell a friend where to find us for tremendous Braves coverage!
Edit: Here are tonight’s lineups for both teams.
Braves: Heyward (RF), J. Upton (LF), Freeman (1B), Gattis (LF), McCann (C), C. Johnson (3B), Simmons (SS), E. Johnson (2B), Teheran (P)
Dodgers: Crawford (LF), M. Ellis (2B), Ramirez (SS), Gonzalez (1B), Puig (RF), Uribe (3B), Schumaker (CF), AJ Ellis (C), Ryu (P)